How do I move from one T-mobile WP8 phone (521) to another (925)?

[HoosierDaddy]

Looks like my 925 will arrive today.

Its a new no contract T-Mobile phone. I am currently using a no contract T-Mobile 521. I need to make the swap for myself but also leave the 521 ready to give to a deserving friend or relative.

Is it as simple as making sure my 521 is backed up, swapping the sim cards and restoring the 925?

I don't want to lose the apps or leave them on the 521, so do I just uninstall them from the 521 before swapping sims? I'm not real clear how the apps are "married" to their phone but I assume I can move them to the new phone and not have to rebuy any which I suspect means they can't be on both phones.

Any reason NOT to have the 521 unlocked before I do anything (It's been on T-Mobile since the first week 521s were out)? I'm guessing I won't be able to unlock it (for free) after I move to the 925.

 

[metalchick719]

Here's what happened when I got my 925 last week. I came from an unlocked Rogers 920, by the way, and a T-Mo Lumia 810 before it. I just popped my SIM into the 925 and my contacts, some texts and my theme/tile color settings came to life in the new phone. Unfortunately, apps don't just appear on your new phone when you do this, though. You can easily get them on the 925 by signing into your account on the Windows Phone Store and going to the "Purchase history" link, then by clicking the "Reinstall" link beside each. They should automatically download to your new 925.

As for the 521 and unlocking it, how long have you had it? T-Mobile will unlock a phone you've used for at least 40 days on their network, I believe.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Here's what happened when I got my 925 last week. I came from an unlocked Rogers 920, by the way, and a T-Mo Lumia 810 before it. I just popped my SIM into the 925 and my contacts, some texts and my theme/tile color settings came to life in the new phone. Unfortunately, apps don't just appear on your new phone when you do this, though. You can easily get them on the 925 by signing into your account on the Windows Phone Store and going to the "Purchase history" link, then by clicking the "Reinstall" link beside each. They should automatically download to your new 925.

As for the 521 and unlocking it, how long have you had it? T-Mobile will unlock a phone you've used for at least 40 days on their network, I believe.

Thanks.

I've been using the 521 on T-Mobile since the first day 521s were sold. So spring-summer 2013 don't remember exactly when they came out. So WAY more than 40 days.

 

[Wacky_Packy]

How did the swap go?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

How did the swap go?

Went great. I posted a thread in the Windows 8 forum: http://forums.windowscentral.com/wi...-anything-how-move-one-wp8-phone-another.html